Ball joint puller

ABSTRACT

A cylindrical cone element is placed over the ball joint aperture and the ball joint assembly is offered up into the aperture from the underside. One or more of a variety of adaptors is then placed over the screw fitted shank of the ball joint assembly and rests upon the conical surface of the cylindrical cone element whereupon a nut can be engaged with the screw fitted shank and tightened down upon the adaptor thus pulling the ball joint assembly up into engagement within the walls of the aperture. The conical surface enables a straight pull to be exerted even if the cylindrical element cannot be aligned exactly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ball joint assembly due to constructional characteristics of the arm carrying the ball joint assembly.

ited States Patent [191 ohinson [451 Feb. 12, 1974 BALL JOINT FULLER[76] Inventor: Paul E. Robinson, 107-1301 Rothesay St., Winnipeg,Manitoba, Canada [22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 283,157

8/1966 Moskovitz 29/149.5 B

Primary ExaminerThomas l-i. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stanley G.Ade

[5 7] ABSTRACT A cylindrical cone element is placed over the ball jointaperture and the ball joint assembly is offered up into the aperturefrom the underside. One or more of a variety of adaptors is then placedover the screw fitted shank of the ball joint assembly and rests uponthe conical surface of the cylindrical cone element whereupon a nut canbe engaged with the screw fitted shank and tightened down upon theadaptor thus pulling the ball joint assembly up into engagement withinthe walls of the aperture. The conical surface enables a straight pullto be exerted even if the cylindrical element cannot be aligned exactlyat right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ball joint assembly dueto constructional characteristics of the arm carrying the ball jointassembly.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 12, 1974 FIG.

FIG.

BALL JOINT FULLER BACKGROUND OF THE ASSEMBLY:

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pullersdesigned to install ball joint assemblies within control arms or thelike of automobiles, or any vehicle utilizing conventional steeringmechanisms.

Conventionally such ball joint assemblies are normally hammered intoposition and sometimes the control arm is heated to expand same, itbeing understood that the ball joint assembly is held frictionallywithin the aperture so that an extremely tight fit is necessary.

Unfortunately the heating of the arm often destroys the temper and asmore and more ball joint assemblies are being made with nylon bearingsurfaces, the transfer of heat to the ball joint assembly will oftendestroy or distort these surfaces.

Complicated hydraulic pullers are sometimes used but these are difficultto get into position upon a ball joint arm without dismantling a fairamount of the front wheel assembly in order to locate same properly.

The present invention overcomes all of these disadvantages by providinga relatively simple yet effective ball joint puller which can be used inrelatively small or confined areas and can pull the ball joint intoposition without the necessity of heating the control arm.

The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore toprovide a device of the character herewithin described which enablesball joint assemblies to be pulled into place within the ends of controlarms without the necessity of dismantling associated equipment.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which operates without the use ofhydraulics or other pneumatic types of equipment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the,character herewithin described which includes means to enable same to beused on the majority of pressed-in type ball joint assembliesmanufactured regardless of the shank length.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described in which a straight pull can be usedupon. the ball joint assembly even although the upper surface of thecontrol arm may be uneven.

Still another object of the invention is toprovide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is simple in construction,economical in. manufacture,

and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it designed.

With the foregoing objectsin view, and such other or further purposes,advantages or novel features as may become apparent from considerationof this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists ofthe inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced, orincluded, in. the means, method, process, product, construction,composition, arrangment of parts, or new use, of any of the foregoing,herein exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a view of a ball jointbeing removed. FIG. 2 shows a view of the arm with the new ball joint,partially inserted.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the invention installedready to pull the ball joint assembly into position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a ball joint assembly andthe device to pull same into position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the body portion of theinvention showing one of the adaptors thereon.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of another of the adaptors.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a still further type of adaptor.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of still another adaptor.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention indetail, reference character 10 illustrates generally control arm havingan aperture 11 formed therethrough within which a conventional balljoint assembly. collectively designated 12, is positioned and heldtightly by the frictional engagement of the wall of the aperture withthe assembly.

The ball joint assembly includes a substantially cylindrical bodyportion 13 having a stepped base 14 and a ball 15 journalled foruniversal movement within the body portion, said ball having a taperedshank 16 extending upwardly therefrom terminating in a parallel screwthreaded portion 17 upon which a nut 18 is engagcd to hold a spindle orthe like (not illustrated).

The invention collectively designated 19 consists of a substantiallycylindrical shell or body portion 20 having a hollowed out curved base21 so that it will fit over the upper portion of the body 13 of the balljoint assembly when in the installed position shown in FIG. 4.

The bore through the body 20 then extends for a portion indicated byreference character 22 and then inclines or flares outwardly in the formof a frusto-conical portion 23 the upper end of which is steppedupwardly to form a horizontal ledge 24. The bore then terminates withthe parallel sided portion 25 extending to the upper side 27 of the bodyor shell 20.

A plurality of adaptors are provided to suit various arrangements ofball joint assemblies and varying shank lengths thereof.

FIG. 6 shows one adaptor which takes the form of a cylindrical washer 28the perimetrical wall 29 of which is chambered on the upper and lowerside as clearly illustrated by reference character 30.

FIG. 7 shows another form of adaptor specifically designated 31 which isalso cylindrical in general configuration and is provided with achamfered perimetrical lower wall portion 32 and a convexly curved upperwall portion 33, it being understood that both of the adaptors 28 and'32 are provided with a bore 34 therethrough of a size sufficient toenable same to engage over the shank or screw threaded portion 17 of theball joint assembly as will hereinafter be described.

FIG. 8 shows a still further adaptor 35 having a substantially verticalperimetrical wall 36, said adaptor also being in the form of acylindrical washer. However the internal bore 37 of this particularadaptor is provided with a frustoconical inner wall surface 38 of adiameter larger than the bore 34 hereinbefore described.

In operation reference should be made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The associated equipment is removed from the ball joint assembly 12 andsame is hammered out of the control arm by means of the ball portion 39of a conventional ball pane hammer.

The new assembly 12 is then offered up to the underside of the controlarm as shown in FIG. 2 with the shank assembly extending through theaperture 11 in the control arm.

The body portion of the puller 19 is then placed over the shank of theball joint assembly so that the lower side 40 of the body portion restsupon the upper surface 41 of the control arm.

The necessary adaptor 28 or 31 is then placed over the shank and engagedwithin the frusto-conical surface 23 of the body portion 20 and a nut 18screw threadably engaged with the screw fitted portion 17.

The nut is then tightened downwardly thus causing the ball jointassembly to be pulled into position within the aperture 11 readily andeasily.

If necessary the underside of the ball joint assembly may be tapped witha hammer in order to align same, but the frustoconical surface 23together with the chamfered perimetrical walls of the adaptor beingused, enables a straight pull to be made along the longitudinal axis ofthe ball joint assembly even if the puller 19 is not exactly at rightangles to the longitudinal axis due to imperfections or construction orcharacteristics of the upper surface 41 of the control arm.

The convex side of the adaptor 33 enables this particular adaptor to beseated lower down the walls of the frustoconical portion so that theinitial pull can be made and then the nut can be removed and thisadaptor turned over thus giving additional depth of threads to be usedfor pulling the ball joint assembly fully into position.

In the event that the ball joint assembly is provided with a relativelylong shank, the adaptor 35 shown in FIG. 8 may be used.

This adaptor is seated upon the stepped horizontal ledge 24 of the bodyportion whereupon either the washer 28 or the adaptor 31 may be engagedwithin the frusto-conical inner surface 38 of the adaptor 35 and thepuller operated as hereinbefore described.

It will of course be appreciated that a plurality of adaptors of thegeneral characteristics illustrated may be used depending upon the shanklength and the distance the ball joint assembly has to be moved in orderto install same. Also the bores 34 of the adaptors may be varied to suitdifferent diameters of screw threaded portion 17 of various wall jointassemblies.

An impact type wrench is used to ensure that the ball joint assembly ispulled fully into position as shown in FIG. 4.

Various modifications may be constructed or performed within the scopeof the inventive concept disclosed. Therefore what has been set forth isintended to illustrate such concept and is not for the purpose oflimiting protection to any herein particularly described embodimentthereof.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A puller for ball joint assemblies inwhich said ball joint assembly includes a cylindrical body, a ballmounted for universal movement in said body and a screw fitted shankextending from said ball, said ball joint assembly being mountable in anaperture in the associated control arm or the like; said pullercomprising in combination a substantial cylindrical portion engageableover the shank of said ball joint assembly and engageable with one sideof the arm within which said ball joint assembly is to be installed, afrusto-conical surface formed in the upper side of said cylindricalportion and at least one adaptor engaging over the shank of said balljoint assembly and within said frustoconical surface.

2. The puller according to claim 1 in which said adaptor takes the formof a hardened steel washer, the perimetrical wall of which is chamfered.

3. The puller according to claim 1 in which said adaptor takes the formof a hardened steel washer having an arcuately curved upper surface anda perimetrical wall, said wall being chamfered around the lower sidethereof.

4. The puller according to claim 1 in which said substantiallycylindrical portion includes a hollowed out base adapted to receive theupper portion of the cylindrical body of said ball joint assembly whensame is pulled into the installed position by said puller.

5. The puller according to claim 2 in which said substantiallycylindrical portion includes a hollowed out base adapted to receive theupper portion of the cylindrical body of said ball joint assembly whensame is pulled into the installed position by said puller.

6. The puller according to claim 3 in which said substantiallycylindrical portion includes a hollowed out base adapted to receive theupper portion of the cylindrical body of said ball joint assembly whensame is pulled into the installed position by said puller.

7. The puller according to claim 4 in which said substantiallycylindrical portion includes a stepped shoulder portion above saidfrusto-conical surface, and further adaptor means engageable therein,said further adaptor means comprising a cylindrical washer having afrusto-conical inner wall.

8. A puller for ball joint assemblies comprising in combination a hollowbody portion, a frusto-conical surface formed internally adjacent theupper end of said body portion and at least one adaptor engageable withsaid frusto-conical surface, said adaptor comprising a cylindrical steelwasher, the perimetrical wall of which is chamfered.

9. The puller according to claim 8 in which the upper surface of saidwasher is convex.

1. A puller for ball joint assemblies in which said ball joint assemblyincludes a cylindrical body, a ball mounted for universal movement insaid body and a screw fitted shank extending from said ball, said balljoint assembly being mountable in an aperture in the associated controlarm or the like; said puller comprising in combination a substantialcylindrical portion engageable over the shank of said ball jointassembly and engageable with one side of the arm within which said balljoint assembly is to be installed, a frusto-conical surface formed inthe upper side of said cylindrical portion and at least one adaptorengaging over the shank of said ball joint assembly and within saidfrusto-conical surface.
 2. The puller according to claim 1 in which saidadaptor takes the form of a hardened steel washer, the perimetrical wallof which is chamfered.
 3. The puller according to claim 1 in which saidadaptor takes the form of a hardened steel washer having an arcuatelycurved upper surface and a perimetrical wall, said wall being chamferedaround the lower side thereof.
 4. The puller according to claim 1 inwhich said substantially cylindrical portion includes a hollowed outbase adapted to receive the upper portion of the cylindrical body ofsaid ball joint assembly when same is pulled into the installed positionby said puller.
 5. The puller according to claim 2 in which saidsubstantially cylindrical portion includes a hollowed out base adaptedTo receive the upper portion of the cylindrical body of said ball jointassembly when same is pulled into the installed position by said puller.6. The puller according to claim 3 in which said substantiallycylindrical portion includes a hollowed out base adapted to receive theupper portion of the cylindrical body of said ball joint assembly whensame is pulled into the installed position by said puller.
 7. The pulleraccording to claim 4 in which said substantially cylindrical portionincludes a stepped shoulder portion above said frusto-conical surface,and further adaptor means engageable therein, said further adaptor meanscomprising a cylindrical washer having a frusto-conical inner wall.
 8. Apuller for ball joint assemblies comprising in combination a hollow bodyportion, a frusto-conical surface formed internally adjacent the upperend of said body portion and at least one adaptor engageable with saidfrusto-conical surface, said adaptor comprising a cylindrical steelwasher, the perimetrical wall of which is chamfered.
 9. The pulleraccording to claim 8 in which the upper surface of said washer isconvex.